By GARY D. ROBERTSON

Associated Press

RALEIGH -- Former Gov. Mike Easley's campaign finances go under the microscope Monday when state election officials begin to scrutinize his election efforts and money from the state Democratic Party.

The investigative hearing, which could last up to a week, could provide new details about more than 25 questioned plane flights and other activities surrounding the two-term governor while Easley was in office.

The five-member board -- three Democrats and two Republicans -- could issue fines or reprimands, refer the case to a district attorney for criminal charges, or exonerate the party and The Mike Easley Committee.

The elections board announced Friday it had subpoenaed Easley and at least 27 other people, including former members of the Easley administration, the trooper once in charge of his security detail and McQueen Campbell, the ex-North Carolina State University trustee chairman who has acknowledged providing flights for the governor.

It's not clear how many people subpoenaed will be asked to testify.

"I can tell you unequivocally that Governor Easley will be a witness," board Chairman Larry Leake said in an interview.

Easley is the latest high-profile Democrat before the board this decade, following House Speaker Jim Black and state Agriculture Commissioner Meg Scott Phipps, both of whom ultimately went to prison. Easley is certainly the best known, even after leaving office in January.

Easley hasn't been formally accused of wrongdoing, but political observers expect Democrats to take some hits because of the hearings on the conduct of the former prosecutor-turned-governor.

"It's never happened before. It's not exactly a pleasant spectacle," said Gary Pearce, a longtime Democratic consultant whose clients included former Gov. Jim Hunt, D-N.C., and former U.S. Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C.

Easley and his election victories were once one of the few bright spots for the Democratic Party in the South. He was someone who "had a reputation of being a tough, courageous, crime-busting DA and attorney general before he was governor," Pearce added. "And this is like Jekyll and Hyde."

Easley joined a high-powered law firm in Raleigh after 16 years in office -- eight as governor and eight as attorney general.

He essentially has been close-mouthed since May as these and other allegations surfaced. A spokesman, political consultant Ace Smith, declined comment Friday out of what he called "respect for this process." Smith said in July he didn't believe a board hearing was warranted. Spokesmen for the committee and the Democratic Party have said they were cooperating with the board.

"We are confident that what we have done was permissible under the rules and laws of the State Board of Elections related to campaign finance," Andrew Whalen, the party's executive director.

By holding the hearing, board Chairman Larry Leake -- one of two Democratic board members appointed by Easley -- apparently believes it's important enough to examine publicly the ex-governor's activities while he was in office. It's a reflection of the board's increased role as a watchdog and its interest in examining non-cash contributions to campaigns.